Mattis: 2001 and 2002 Congressional authorizations still valid for current combat operations

As detailed in the story from Defense.gov linked below, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis appeared before Congress with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to speak about the adequacy of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs).

As many readers will recall, the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs were enacted in the wake of the deadly attacks of September 11, 2001 and in the period leading up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Despite the age of these AUMFs, the Secretaries asserted that they provide sufficient authority for ongoing U.S. operations (which include those in places like Syria, not originally contemplated by those who voted on the AUMFs).

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis flies over Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2017. Mattis testified before Congress Oct. 30 on the Authorizations for Use of Military Force, the authorities under which the U.S. engages in the fight against terrorism. Read more at source…